Shia LaBeouf (star of the upcoming Transformers: Dark of the Moon) says a fifth installment in the popular Indiana Jones franchise may be just around the corner. LaBeouf spoke with MTV News at the 2011 MTV Movie Awards last weekend and said that Indiana Jones himself, Harrison Ford, is hard at work in the gym.
Though the film series’ co-creator George Lucas is still looking for a ‘MacGuffin’ (a plot element that catches the viewers’ attention or drives the plot of a work of fiction), Ford reportedly plans to continue to work out in preparation for the role.
Rumors of another installment in the franchise have been circling since the release of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull in 2008. Initially it was reported that Ford would hang up his fedora after the fourth film and pass on the franchise to his on-screen son Mutt Williams, played by Shia LaBoeuf. However, those rumors were dismissed last year when Ford said he was looking forward to portraying the character again on the big screen.
Despite what LaBeouf and Ford have to say on the topic I’m still skeptical that another film will be made. Series’ director Steven Speilberg has enough on his plate as it is and with Ford turning 69 next month this movie had better go into production fast. I love the Indiana Jones films and would definitely see another if it were released but I’m not getting my hopes up.